A murder investigation is under way after a woman was found dead following a “horrific” attack and a flat fire in Northern Ireland. Firefighters attended after reports of a blaze at a property in Harvey Street in Derry at 4.15am on Saturday. The woman, who was found in a ground-floor flat, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said they are investigating the circumstances around the “suspicious” death. The woman is believed to be aged in her 40s to 60s, DCI Anthony Kelly said. “From our inquiries so far, we can tell you that the victim suffered a horrific attack and sustained multiple injuries,” he said. “We know this brutal murder has caused great concern, understandably, but we can assure you we are working at full pace to establish what happened and catch those responsible for this heinous and evil crime. “You will see an increase in police presence in the city in the coming hours and days, and I’m grateful to members of the public for their ongoing support.” He said the preserved scene on Harvey Street remains in place and a postmortem examination will be carried out to establish the cause of death. “We have a number of specific appeals to make and I urge anyone with information to contact us, or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous,” said Kelly. Nearby Waterloo Street and Chamberlain Street have been closed and people have been advised to avoid the area. Mark H Durkan, SDLP MLA for Foyle, said a major police investigation was under way after the “harrowing and heartbreaking” discovery. “Our thoughts and prayers are with a family waking to the worst possible news this morning,” he wrote on Facebook. “Please, please come forward if you have any information at all that might help the police with their investigation.” Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on its website or by calling 0800 555 111. Police are in particular asking those with dashcam or doorbell camera footage of the area between 2am and 5am to get in touch.